We bought a home 4 years ago with a beautifully landscaped backyard... that would be perfect for a family with no kids. Several features were impractical for our crew, so we're in an extended DIY remodel. 

It's hard.

And not just the physical labor. What I didn't expect is the emotional work required....

There's a hero in my life who is fighting an epic battle right now (keeping her identity anonymous for privacy's sake).

She has kept the most powerfully positive outlook on her fight (doing things like calling her treatments "ammo-therapy," for example), which has been truly inspiring to watch. 

I'm t...

I asked a question on Facebook the other day, which has been opening some really interesting thoughts and conversations for me. 

The question was simply: What are you craving right now?

I expected to receive a wide range of responses, but I frankly didn't expect people to be so open and honest. I'm ...

I love learning from nature and animals. I think they're a gift from God, to help guide us and teach us eternal principles during this Earth experience.

One thing I'm learning is through our new puppy, Charlie, who is 7 months old now. She is so full of life and love! Each member of our party of 6 g...

I spent some time at the ER this morning, getting tested and scanned because of a breathing issue I'm having (happy news is they ruled out all of the scary stuff and determined that it's just inflammation. <wipes brow with relief>).

Knowing how these visits can go, I brought a book along with me tha...

Have you ever heard of a people-pleasing fitness trainer? I haven't.

Fitness trainers are supposed to push you to do things you're not strong enough for. They expect you to be uncomfortable because that's where you'll grow. 

They are basically getting paid to (temporarily) hurt people.

What if there wa...

I've talked with several friends who each had incredibly difficult things happen this week (one of them, more than one). As a friend I want to be able to take at least some of the suffering so they don't have to carry it all. It's hard to know what to say or do to be able to support in a way that's ...

I was out walking this morning, when a huge collection of beautiful blooms stopped me in my tracks. They looked like pom poms! These softball-sized puffs of tiny white flowers looked almost like hydrangea, but the petals were a little bit different. They made me instantly smile when I saw them, so I...

Today marks 20 years since Chris and I were married. I had a tender time last night, reflecting on the feelings I had the night before our wedding day. I wasn't jittery, because I know for sure Chris was the one for me, and that God was 100% on board with our union. But I do remember feeling apprehe...

One of my favorite movies of all time is My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle. I've remember watching it with my mom as a little girl, singing and dancing along to "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?". And that stunning scene of her in the dress at the top of the steps before the ball....🤩 ...

I've seen the most beautiful examples this weekend of inspiring married relationships that have shown me glimpses into what's possible, and we're working hard to build in our own marriage.

The first is my aunt and uncle, who are serving a mission together in Ontario, Canada (they're actually leading ...

What if there was someone who told you they don't like dogs because they're small with super high-pitched barks? 

Or what if someone else said they can't stand dogs because they're huge and slobbery? 

They're speaking from real experience, but they're missing out on some great possibilities by using s...